Opportunities for Students-

The information is listed in a monthly order of the programs or when registrations or applications are due. Some programs occur annually, some do not; please check the specific links and contact the sources for more details. Some listings are for individuals, some are for teams, whole classes, or schools; see links for details. Please share information from this webpage with students in your area. Additonal Postings of Academic Opportunities for WV Students will be listed at the Students Ops webpage as information becomes available. If you have information you would like to have considered for posting on either of these sites, please contact WVDE Science Coordinator, Robin Sizemore, robin.sizemore@k12.wv.us, with details including the title and a brief description of the program, the URL, and the dates for registration and/or competition. Your assistance will be appreciated.

During Winter Months

Middle school and high school students apply for the Governor's Schools of West Virginia which are residential summer sessions for academically and/or artistically talented students from across West Virginia.
Consisting of three programs that take place every summer on the campuses of various state colleges and institutions of learning, the programs are based on the premise that West Virginia's youth must be provided with special opportunities for learning and personal development in order for them to realize their full potential. More details and applicaiton infomration is available at this site Governor's Schools of West Virginia.

High School students who create visual arts pieces and videos which explain the processes and materials they use to create their artwork may submit the videos to the Science in the Arts Competition. Winners are recognized during the Arts Alive! Program in Charleston, WV in the spring. Vist the link for more details.

WV Sustainable Schools is a recognition program for schools that exemplify a commitment to sustainable practices in the facilities as well as integrate those practices into the curriculum and community. All public and private schools in West Virginia will be invited to apply for this state and national recognition. The WV Sustainable Schools makes nominatiosn to U.S. Department of Education for Green Ribbon Schools.

April

The mission of the WV Envirothon is to help young people develop the skills, knowledge, and desires necessary to achieve and maintain a balance between the quality of life and the quality of the environment.

The Academy Introduction Mission (AIM) is a challenging summer program for high school juniors interested in serving their country and exploring technical degree programs. For six action-packed days in July, students will be immersed in Coast Guard tradition and Academy life in the classroom, engineering lab, playing fields, and on the water. Students compete in a water based robotics project as they interact and learn from cadets, faculty and Coast Guard professionals. Applications are now open to high school juniors at www.uscga.edu/AIM; apply prior to April 15.

BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) is a non-profit, volunteer organization whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, science- and engineering-based robotics competition.

The Science in the Arts competition as part of Arts Alive! It was created by the WVDE to encourage high school students to consider, research, and present information about relationships between the two seemingly different subjects. Information about the competition is posted on the Arts Alive! web page.

May

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair- Learn more on the Intel ISEF homepage if you are interested in participating, partnering as an exhibitor, or award provider.

Odyssey of the Mind teaches students to learn creative problem-solving methods while having fun in the process.

The National Engineers Week Future City Competition is a program developed for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students to help them discover and foster interests in math, science, and engineering.

June

The National Youth Science Camp is a residential science education program for young scientists the summer after they graduate from high school.

KODAK Scholarship Program- These highly competitive awards are given to students demonstrating superior professional filmmaking production skills and creativity along with academic success.

July

August

eCYBERMISSION is a free, web-based science, technology, engineering and math competition for students in grades six through nine. Teams register August- December, regional competions in March, national competition in June.

September

The Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF) is a classic example of how a university and partnering organizations with similar visions find common ground and help K-12 students realize the technical career opportunities of tomorrow. Student teams enroll September - November.

October

The Solar Car Challenge motivates students in science and engineering, and to increase alternative energy awareness; it teaches high school students around the world how to build roadworthy solar cars.

Botball Educational Robotics Program is an outreach program that uses robotics technology to engage students in learning the practical applications of science, technology, engineering, and math.

High School students get the chance to develop a commercial product to help solve a real challenge facing our world today. They may take their innovative science and technology idea to all-new heights a the Spirit of Innovation Challenge.

The Shell Science Lab Challenge gives middle and high school teachers an opportunity to share their exemplary approaches for a chance to win a school science lab makeover support package valued at $20,000.00! Visit http://www.nsta.org/shellsciencelab/prizes.aspx to learn more.

The Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is the world's largest rocket contest, sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). It was created in the fall of 2002 as a one-time celebration of the Centennial of Flight, but the enthusiasm about the event was so great that AIA and NAR were asked to hold the contest annually. The competition is open to middle and high school sutdnets and applications are due in November.

December

MATHCOUNTS is a national math coaching and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement through grass roots involvement in every US state and territory.

Visit the links below and contact the organizations in your area to determine dates for registration and competitions in your area.

Destination ImagiNation is an international creative problem solving competition program for kids in elementary, middle and high school divisions.

The mission of the FIRST LEGO League and the First Robotics Competitions is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

FIRST Tech Challenge: This year’s challenge is called “Ring It Up” and if you sign up for this exciting robotics competition that is exactly what your students will be doing. Based on a sports model, teams of up to 10 students are responsible for designing, building and programming a robots to compete as alliances against other teams.

The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center coordinates an international student underwater robotics (remotely operated vehicle ot ROV) competitions and network of 20 regional ROV contests that take place across U.S. and in Canada, Hong Kong, Scotland, and Japan. Student teams from upper elementary, middle schools, high schools, home schools, community colleges, universities, and community organizations, such as Boys and Girls Clubs and 4-H, participate.

National Robotics Challenge is open to students in Middle Schools, High Schools, Vocational Schools, Community Colleges and Universities from the United States.

National Science Bowl® is a highly visible educational event and academic competition among teams of high school students who attend science seminars and compete in a verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math.

Real World Design Aviation Challenge: The fastest growing high school STEM competition in the country keeps getting better! One reason RWDC is so popular is that it is totally 100% FREE! Thousands of dollars in FREE engineering software, FREE trainings, FREE mentoring, a FREE state tournament, plus there is a guarantee that one of our WV teams will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the nation’s capitol to compete against students from most US States and many territories. Visit http://RealWorldDesignChallenge.org and click on “Sign Up”

Science Olympiad's ever-changing event lineup provides a variety of career choices and exposure to practicing scientists and mentors.